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JANABARI 6-12
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LAKAZIMU | GENESISI 1-2
“UJehova Wadala Izinto Eziphilako Ephasini”
(Genesisi 1:3, 4) Nje-ke uZimu wathi: “Akubekhona ukukhanya.” Ukukhanya kwavela. 4 UZimu wabona bonyana ukukhanya kuhle; yeke wahlukanisa ukukhanya nobumnyama.
(Genesisi 1:6) UZimu wathi: “Akubekhona isibanga hlangana kwamanzi, kuhlukaniseke amanzi namanzi.”
(Genesisi 1:9) UZimu wathi: “Amanzi angaphasi komkayi akabuthane ndawonye, kubekhona indawo eyomileko.” Mbala kwaba njalo.
(Genesisi 1:11) UZimu wathi: “Iphasi aliveze iimila: iintjalo ezinembewu, imithi ethela iinthelo ezinembewu ukuya ngemihlobayo.” Mbala kwaba njalo.
it-1 527-528
Ukudalwa Kwezinto
NgeLanga lokuThoma uZimu nakathi, “Akubekhona ukukhanya,” mbala kwaba njalo, kwathoma ukukhanya emafwini kodwana umkhanyo loyo bewunganamandla kangako ngombana bewungafiki ephasini. Kubonakala ngasuthi koke lokhu kwenzeka kancanikancani njengombana kutjho umtjhugululi uJ. W. Watts nakathi: “Kancanikancani kwaba khona ukukhanya.” (Gen 1:3, A Distinctive Translation of Genesis) UZimu wahlukanisa umkhanyo nobumnyama, wabiza umkhanyo ngokuthi yiMini ubumnyama ngokuthi Busuku. Lokhu kutjengisa ukuthi iphasi belizungeza ilanga ukwenzela bona umkhanyo nobumnyama bufike epumalanga netjingalanga.—Gen 1:3, 4.
ELangeni lesiBili uZimu wenza bona ‘kuhlukane amanzi.’ Amanye amanzi asala ephasini kodwana amanzi amanengi abangaphezulu kwesibanga, kwaba nesikhala hlangana namanzi la. UZimu wabiza isibanga ngokuthi Mkayi begodu umkayi nephasi kwasebenzisana kuhle, kungebangelo amanzi asemkayini angasithi iinkwekwezi namkha ezinye izinto ezisemkayini.—Gen 1:6-8.
ELangeni lesiThathu uZimu wenza ikarisomraro, wabuthelela amanzi angaphasi komkayi ndawonye kwavela indawo eyomileko, uZimu wayibiza ngokuthi liPhasi. Kungebangelo uJehova enza bona iphasi likghone ukuzivuselela. UZimu walungisa iphasi bona likghone ukumila utjani, iimila nemithi yeenthelo. Omunye nomunye umuthi bewuzokuthela ngomhlobo ‘wawo’.—Gen 1:9-13.
(Genesisi 1:14) UZimu wathi: “Akube khona iinkhanyisi emkayini ukuze zihlukanise ubusuku nemini; azibe matshwayo weenkhathi zeminyanya, zikhombe amalanga neminyaka.
(Genesisi 1:20) UZimu wathi: “Amanzi akaphithizele yoke imihlobo yeemphili, iinyoni ziphaphe phezulu emkayini.”
(Genesisi 1:24) UZimu wathi: “Iphasi nalo aliveze iimphili ngemihlobazo: ezifuywako, ezikhakhabako nezommango, zoke zibe ngokuhlukahlukana kwazo.” Mbala kwaba njalo.
(Genesisi 1:27) Yeke uZimu wadala umuntu ngomfanekiswakhe; umuntu waba mfuziselo kaZimu; wadala wembaji nowengubo.
it-1 528 ¶5-8
Ukudalwa Kwezinto
KuGenesisi 1:16 kusetjenziswe ibizo lesiHebheru elithi, ʽa·sahʹ elitjho “ukwenza,” esikhundleni sebizo elithi, ba·raʼʹ, elitjho “ukudala,” njengombana uGenesisi 1:1 akhuluma ‘ngokudala amazulu’ ubala hlangana ilanga, inyanga neenkwekwezi, ngombana zadalwa ngaphambi kobana kufike iLanga leSine. Ngelanga lesine uZimu “wenza” bona iinkhanyisezi zenze umsebenzi oqakathekileko ephasini nemkayini. Ngombana iBhayibheli lithi, “uZimu wathatha iinkhanyisezi wazibeka phezulu emkayini bona zikhanyisele iphasi,” lokhu kutjengisa bona zathoma ukubonakala ephasini. Begodu iinkhanyisezi ‘bezizokuba matshwayo weenkhathi zeminyanya, zikhombe amalanga neminyaka.’ Zisize abantu ngeendlela ezahlukahlukeneko.—Gen 1:14.
NgeLanga lesiHlanu uZimu wadala iinlwana ephasini. Akhenge adale umhlobo munye weenlwana kodwana wadala imihlobohlobo yazo. IBhayibheli lithi: “Kungendlela leyo uZimu adala ngayo iimbandana ezikulu zelwandle neemphili zoke eziphithizela ngemanzini ngemihlobazo.” UZimu wabona ukuthi koke akudalileko kuhle. Yeke, wabusisa iimphili neembandana wathi, “zalani nande.” Zoke iimphili neembandana zaba nekghono lokuzala ‘ngokwemihlobazo.’—Gen 1:20-23.
NgeLanga lesiThandathu wathi, “Iphasi nalo aliveze iimphili ngemihlobazo: ezifuywako, ezikhakhabako nezommango, zoke zibe ngokuhlukahlukana kwazo,” uZimu wathi nakaqala koke akwenzileko wabona ukuthi kuhle.—Gen 1:24, 25.
Nasele kuzokuphela ilanga lesithandathu lokudala, uZimu wadala isibunjwa esitjha esingafani nezinye, esinamandla ukwedlula iimphili neembandana kodwana esingaphasi kweengilozi. Isidalwesi, mumuntu owadalwa ngomfanekiso kaZimu. Umtlolo kaGenesisi 1:27, nawukhuluma ngabantu uthi, uZimu “wadala wembaji nowengubo,” indaba efanako ekuGenesisi 2:7-9 iveza ukuthi uJehova uZimu wadala umuntu ngethuli lehlabathi waphefumulela eempumulweni zakhe ummoya wokuphila, ngaleyo ndlela umuntu waba mphefumulo ophilako, wabekwa epharadesi wanikelwa nokudla. UJehova wasebenzisa izinto ezisephasini bona adale umuntu. Ngemva kwalokho, wadala umuntu wengubo asebenzisa ibambo laka-Adamu. (Gen 2:18-25) Ukudalwa komuntu wengubo kwenza bona u-Adamu azifumanele ithambo lamathambakhe.—Gen 5:1, 2.
Rhubhulula Ngezinto ZakaZimu Eziligugu
(Genesisi 1:1) Koke kwathoma lokha uZimu nakadala izulu nephasi.
Indlela Isayensi Ekuthinta Ngayo Ukuphila Kwakho
Iphasi lineminyaka engangani likhona?
Abososayensi bacabanga ukuthi iphasi lineminyaka eyi-4 bhiliyoni labunjwa begodu koke okudaliweko kuhlanganise izulu nephasi bacabanga ukuthi kuneminyaka epheze ibe yi-13 kuya ku-14 bhiliyoni. IBhayibheli alitjho ukuthi iphasi labunjwa nini. Alikho ivesi elitjhoko ukuthi iphasi lineminyaka engangani likhona. Ivesi lokuthoma eBhayibhelini lithi: “Koke kwathoma lokha uZimu nakadala izulu nephasi.” (Genesisi 1:1) Ukungatjho kweBhayibheli ukuthi iphasi labunjwa nini kwenza abososayensi bazicabangele bona iphasi lineminyaka engangani likhona basebenzisa imithetho yesayensi.
(Genesisi 1:26) UZimu wathi: “Asenze umuntu ngomfanekiswethu asifuze, abuse phezu kweenhlambi zelwandle, iinyoni zomkayi, zoke iinlwana zephasi, kanye nakho koke okukhakhaba phezu kwalo.”
it-2 52
UJesu Krestu
AkasiMdali. INdodana yasiza nakudalwa izinto, kodwana lokho, akuyenzi bona ibizwe ngokuthi Mdali. Amandla wokudala yawafumana kuZimu ngommoya ocwengileko, okumamandla asebenzako. (Gen 1:2; IR 33:6) Ngebanga lokuthi uJehova umthombo wokuphila, zoke izinto ezidaliweko ezibonakalako nezingabonakaliko zidalwe nguye. (IR 36:9) Kunokuthi iNdodana ibe Mdali, uJehova wasebenzisa yona ukudala izinto, yaba sithunywa sakhe. ImiTlolo iveza ukuthi uJesu ngokwakhe wadumisa uJehova ngebanga lezinto azidalileko.—Mat 19:4-6.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Genesisi 1:1-19) Koke kwathoma lokha uZimu nakadala iz ulu nephasi. 2 Nje-ke iphasi belinganabubono begodu linganabuphilo. Bekumnyama koke, iphasi libhibezwe mamanzi amanengi. Kodwana ummoya kaZimu wavunguza phezu kwamanzi. 3 Nje-ke uZimu wathi: “Akubekhona ukukhanya.” Ukukhanya kwavela. 4 UZimu wabona bonyana ukukhanya kuhle; yeke wahlukanisa ukukhanya nobumnyama. 5 UZimu wabiza ukukhanya bona yimini, ubumnyama wathi busuku. Kwahlwa, kwasa; kwaba lilanga lokuthoma. 6 UZimu wathi: “Akubekhona isibanga hlangana kwamanzi, kuhlukaniseke amanzi namanzi.” 7 Kungendlela leyo uZimu enza ngayo isibanga, wahlukanisa amanzi angaphasi kwesibanga namanzi angehla kwaso. Mbala kwaba njalo. 8 UZimu wabiza isibanga bona mkayi. Kwahlwa, kwasa; kwaba lilanga lesibili. 9 UZimu wathi: “Amanzi angaphasi komkayi akabuthane ndawonye, kubekhona indawo eyomileko.” Mbala kwaba njalo. 10 UZimu wabiza indawo eyomileko bona liphasi, kwathi amanzi abuthene ndawonye wawabiza bona malwandle. UZimu wabona lokho kukuhle. 11 UZimu wathi: “Iphasi aliveze iimila: iintjalo ezinembewu, imithi ethela iinthelo ezinembewu ukuya ngemihlobayo.” Mbala kwaba njalo. 12 Yeke iphasi laveza iimila: iintjalo ezinembewu ukuya ngemihlobazo nemithi ethela iinthelo ezinembewu ukuya ngemihlobayo. UZimu wabona lokho kukuhle. 13 Kwahlwa, kwasa; kwaba lilanga lesithathu. 14 UZimu wathi: “Akube khona iinkhanyisi emkayini ukuze zihlukanise ubusuku nemini; azibe matshwayo weenkhathi zeminyanya, zikhombe amalanga neminyaka. 15 Azibe ziinkhanyisi zomkayi zikhanyisele iphasi.” Mbala kwaba njalo. 16 UZimu wenza iinkhanyisi ezimbili ezikulu; esikhudlwana kunesinye wasenza bona sibuse imini, esincani wasenza bona sibuse ubusuku. Godu wenza neenkwekwezi. 17 UZimu wathatha iinkhanyisezi wazibeka phezulu emkayini bona zikhanyisele iphasi. 18 Wazenza bonyana zibuse phezu kobusuku nemini, nokobana zihlukanise umkhanyo nobumnyama. UZimu wabona lokho kukuhle. 19 Kwahlwa, kwasa; kwaba lilanga lesine.
JANABARI 13-19, 2012
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LAKAZIMU | GENESISI 3-5
“Imiphumela Ebuhlungu Yamala Akhulunywa Ekuthomeni”
(Genesisi 3:1-5) Inyoka gade inobuqili ukudlula ezinye iinlwana zommango uZimu azenzileko. Yabuza umfazi yathi: “Kuliqiniso bona uZimu unalele ukudla kinanyana ngimuphi umuthi osesivandeni na?” 2 Umfazi waphendula wathi: “Awa, singadla isithelo sananyana ngimuphi umuthi esivandeni, 3 kodwana uZimu uthe, ‘Ningadli isithelo somuthi ophakathi nesivande begodu ningawuthinti ukuze ningafi.’” 4 Inyoka yathi: “Awa, anikazukufa! 5 Kuhlekuhle uZimu uyazi bonyana mhlazana nisidlako, amehlwenu azokuvuleka, nibe nokwazi koke njengoZimu.”
Ihloso KaJehova Nakanjani Izokufezeka!
9 USathana uDeveli wasebenzisa inyoka ukulinga u-Eva bona angamlaleli uBabakhe, uJehova. (Funda uGenesisi 3:1-5; IsAm. 12:9) USathana wayenza yaba yindaba ekulu yokuthi uZimu wathi abantu kunomuthi okungakafuzi bawudle esimini. Kuhlekuhle bekathi kibo: ‘Nitjho ukuthi aninakululeko yokwenza enikuthandako?’ Walandela ngokubatjela amalakazi naka, wathi: “Awa, anikazukufa!” Walinga ukukhohlisa u-Eva ngokuthi akutlhogeki bona alalele uZimu, ngokumtjela athi: “UZimu uyazi bonyana mhlazana nisidlako, amehlwenu azokuvuleka.” USathana begade afuna bakholelwe bona uJehova bekangafuni bona badle isithelweso ngombana nabangasidla bebazokuhlakanipha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uSathana waleya amala godu wathi kibo: ‘Nizokwazi koke njengoZimu.’
(Genesisi 3:6) Umfazi waqala umuthi, wabona iinthelo ezihle neziyengako. Phezu kwalokho beziganukeja ngombana ziyahlakaniphisa. Yeke wakha iinthelo kiwo wadla, wanikela nendodakhe egade inaye, nayo yadla.
w00 11/15 25-26
Esingakufunda Ebatjhadikazini Bokuthoma
Kghani isono saka-Eva bekufuze senzeke? Awa! Zicabange usebujamweni bakhe. Inyoka yakhuluma amala ahlaza ngalokho uZimu akutjela u-Adamu. Ungazizwa njani nange umuntu ongamaziko akhuluma amala ngomuntu omthandako bekathi umuntu loyo akakathembeki? U-Eva bekufuze asilingeke nakezwa amezwi la, begodu angavumi ukuyilalela. Ngaphezu kwako koke, inyoka le, beyingubani bona ingangabaza ukulunga kwakaZimu namazwi wendodakwakhe? Ukutjengisa bona uyamhlonipha ubabakwakhe u-Eva bekufuze ambuze qangi ngaphambi kokuthi adle isithelo. Nathi nakungenzeka siqalane nobujamo obuphambene neenkambisolawulo zakaZimu kufuze sibuze qangi ngaphambi kobana senze isiqunto. U-Eva wakhetha ukukholelwa amezwi weNyoka, wabanesifiso sokuziquntela yena bona khuyini elungileko nengakalungi. Nakacabanga khulu ngesifisweso sabonakala siyinto ehle. Kunokobana alise ukucabanga ngendaba le, namkha abuze ubabakwakhe ngaphambi kobana adle u-Eva waziquntela yena okufuze akwenze.—1 Korinte 11:3; Jakopo 1:14, 15.
U-Adamu Walalela Umkakhe
U-Eva wayenga u-Adamu ukuthi naye enze isono. Singayihlathulula njani indaba ka-Adamu yokungaphikisi umkakhe? (Genesisi 3:6, 17) U-Adamu bekufuze akhethe ukuthi uzokulalela ubani. Kghani bekazokukhetha ukulalela uMdalakhe omnikele koke kuhlanganise nomkakhe, u-Eva? Kghani bekazokufuna isinqophiso sakaZimu ukuthi kufuze enzeni? Nofana uzokukhetha ukulalela umkakhe? U-Adamu bekazi kuhle ukuthi umkakhe angeze afumana litho ngokudla isithelo esingakafaneli. Umpostoli uPowula waphefumulelwa bona atlole athi: “U-Adamu akhenge akhohliswe, kodwana umfazi nguye owakhohliswa ngokupheleleko begodu waba siseqamthetho.” (1 Thimothi 2:14) Yeke u-Adamu wakhetha ukungamlaleli uZimu. Kunokobana akholelwe ukuthi uJehova uZimu angakghona ukulungisa ubujamo wasaba kulahlekelwa mkakhe.
(Genesisi 3:15-19) Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nomfazi, naphakathi kweenzukulwana zakho neenzukulwana zakhe; zona zizakutshidlha ihlokwakho wena ulume isithende sazo.” 16 Emfazini uZimu wathi: “Ngizokwandisela ubuhlungu ekuzithwaleni kwakho, ubelethe ngobudisi obukhulu. Uzakutjhisakalela indodakho, kodwana yona izakukubusa.” 17 Endodeni uZimu wathi: “Njengombana ulalele umfazi wabe wadla emthini engakwalela bonyana udle kiwo; ihlabathi seyinikelelwe ngebanga lakho: Imihla yoke yepilwakho uzakusebenza nzima ukufumana ukudla kwakho kiyo, 18 kodwana izakuvezela ameva nabosotokolo bewudle iimila zommango. 19 Ukudla kwakho uzakujulukela bewubuyele ehlabathini. Iye, wathathwa kiyo begodu njengombana ulithuli nje, uzakubuyela ethulini.”
Kghani UZimu Unendaba Nabafazi?
Kghani abafazi baqalekiswe nguZimu?
Awa. Kodwana, “inyoka yokuthoma, leyo ebizwa ngokuthi nguDeveli,” ngiyo ‘eyanikelelwa’ nguZimu. (IsAmbulo 12:9; Genesisi 3:14) Lokha uZimu nakathi indoda ‘izakubusa’ umfazi, uZimu bekangatjho ukuthi uyakwamukela bona indoda ilawule umfazi. (Genesisi 3:16) Bekabikezela ngemiphumela ebuhlungu yokungalaleli kwabo.
w04 1/1 29 ¶2
Amaphuzu Asencwadini KaGenesisi—I
3:17—Kungayiphi indlela ihlabathi eyanikelelwa, begodu yanikelelwa isikhathi esingangani? Isiqalekiso esenziwa ehlabathini besitjho ukuthi kuzokufuze basebenze budisi bona bafumane ukudla ehlabathini. Imiphumela yokunikelelwa kwenarha, ngameva nabosotokolo, iinzukulwana zaka-Adamu zabuzwa ubuhlungu balokho kungebangelo ubaba kaNowa, uLemeki, wathi, ‘ubuhlungu bamatjhatjhazi wezandla zethu bungebanga lehlabathi eyanikelelwa nguZimu.’ (Genesisi 5:29) Ngemva komThwalela, uJehova wabusisa uNowa namadodanakhe, wathi kibo bazalise iphasi. (Genesisi 9:1) Kuyakhanya ukuthi ukunikelelwa kwehlabathi ngesikhatheso besele kuphelile.—Genesisi 13:10.
it-2 186
Iinhlungu Zokubeletha
Isizi lifaniswa neenhlungu zokubeletha. Ngemva kokuthi u-Eva enze isono, uZimu wakhuluma ngokuthi kuzokuba njani ukubeletha. Ngathana wahlala athembekile, uZimu bekazombusisa begodu bengekhe ezwe ubuhlungu nakabelethako ngombana iBhayibheli lithi, “Isibusiso sakaSomnini siletha umnono nomtjhikatjhika awengezi litho kiwo.” (IzA 10:22) Ngebanga lokuba nomzimba onesono sizokuzwa ubuhlungu. Yeke uZimu wathi (izinto azivumelako kuba ngasuthi zibangelwa nguye): “Ngizokwandisela ubuhlungu ekuzithwaleni kwakho, ubelethe ngobudisi obukhulu.”—Gen 3:16.
Rhubhulula Ngezinto ZakaZimu Eziligugu
(Genesisi 4:23, 24) ULemeki wathi ebafazini bakhe: “Ada nawe Tsila, lalelani mina; bafazi bami lalelani amezwami: Indoda elimaza mina, ngizoyibulala nya, kuzakuba njalo nesokaneni elingiphobolako. 24 lye, uKhayini uzakubuyiselelwa kalikhomba kodwana uLemeki yena kuzakuba kamatjhumi alikhomba nalikhomba!”
it-2 192 ¶5
ULemeki
Ikondlo uLemeki ayitlolela abafazi bakhe (Gen 4:23, 24) itjengisa ukuthi inturhu beyizele kangangani ngesikhatheso. Ikondlo kaLemeki ithi: “Lalelani mina; bafazi bami lalelani amezwami: Indoda elimaza mina, ngizoyibulala nya, kuzakuba njalo nesokaneni elingiphobolako. lye, uKhayini uzakubuyiselelwa kalikhomba kodwana uLemeki yena kuzakuba kamatjhumi alikhomba nalikhomba!” Kuyakhanya ukuthi uLemeki bekazivikela, afuna ukutjengisa ukuthi bekangabulali ngehloso njengombana kwenza uKhayini. ULemeki uveza ukuthi, wabulala indoda eyambethako yamlimaza ngebanga lokuthi bekazivikela. Yeke, ikondlwakhe ngeyokubawa ukulitjalelwa kunanyana ngubani ofuna ukuzibuyiselela ngebanga lokuthi abulele umuntu ebekamhlasela.
(Genesisi 4:26) USethi naye wabeletha indodana wayithiya bona ngu-Enotjhi. Ngesikhatheso abantu bathoma ukubiza ibizo lakaSomnini.
it-1 338 ¶2
Ukuhlambalaza
Ukubiza kwabantu “ibizo [lakaJehova, NW]” emihleni ka-Enotjhi ngaphambi komThwalela bekungenziwa ngendlela efaneleko, ngombana bekungu-Abela kwaphela owalotjha uZimu ngendlela efaneleko. (Ge 4:26; Heb 11:4) Nangabe abanye abafundi beBhayibheli bathi ukubiza ibizo lakaZimu bekungenziwa ngendlela efaneleko abantu bebasebenzisa ibizo lakaJehova eenthombeni namkha ebantwini lokho bekuzokutjho ukuthi bahlambalaza ibizo lakaZimu.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Genesisi 4:17–5:8) UKhayini weyama umkakhe, wazithwala bewabeletha u-lnogo. UKhayini wakha idorobho walithiyelela ngendodanakhe u-Inogo. 18 U-Inogo wabelethelwa u-Iradi; u-Iradi wabeletha uMerhiyayeli, uMerhiyayeli wabeletha uMetutjhayeli owabeletha uLemeki. 19 ULemeki wathatha abafazi ababili, omunye abizwa bona ngu-Ada omunye kuthiwa nguTsila. 20 U-Ada wabeletha uJabali. UJabali lo, gade anguyise wabomahlala etendeni nabafuyi. 21 Ibizo lomfowabo bekunguJubali. UJubali yena gade anguyise wabo boke abancinzi bamaharibha namanghwani. 22 UTsila naye wabeletha indodana okuthiwa nguTubali-Khayini. Yena gade amkhandi noyise walabo abasebenza ngekoporo nesimbi. Udadwabo lakaTubali-Khayini bekunguNama. 23 ULemeki wathi ebafazini bakhe: “Ada nawe Tsila, lalelani mina; bafazi bami lalelani amezwami: Indoda elimaza mina, ngizoyibulala nya, kuzakuba njalo nesokaneni elingiphobolako. 24 lye, uKhayini uzakubuyiselelwa kalikhomba kodwana uLemeki yena kuzakuba kamatjhumi alikhomba nalikhomba!” 25 U-Adamu weyama umkakhe godu wabeletha indodana wayithiya bona nguSethi ngombana wathi: UZimu ungiphe omunye umntwana esikhundleni saka-Abela obulewe nguKhayini.” 26 USethi naye wabeletha indodana wayithiya bona ngu-Enotjhi. Ngesikhatheso abantu bathoma ukubiza ibizo lakaSomnini.
5 Nanti irhelo leenzukulwana zaka-Adamu: Lokha uZimu nakadala umuntu amenza ngomfanekiso kaZimu, 2 wabenza kwaba ngowembaji nowengubo, wababusisa. Mhlana abenzako wababiza bona babantu. 3 Kuthe lokha umuntu ongu-Adamu nasele aphile iminyaka elikhulu namatjhumi amathathu, wabelethaindodana emfanekiswakhe nefuze yena, wayithiya ibizo bona nguSethi. 4 Emva kokobana kubelethwe uSethi, u-Adamu waphila iminyaka emakhulu abunane. Wabeletha amadodana amanye kanye namadodakazi. 5 Yoke iminyaka u-Adamu ayiphilako imakhulu alithoba namatjhumi amathathu, emva kwalapho wahlongakala. 6 Kuthe lokha uSethi nasele aphile iminyaka elikhulu namihlanu, wabeletha u-Enotjhi. 7 Emva kokobana kubelethwe u-Enotjhi, uSethi waphila iminyaka emakhulu abunane nalikhomba. Wabeletha amadodana amanye namadodakazi. 8 Yoke iminyaka uSethi ayiphilako imakhulu alithoba netjhumi nambili, emva kwalapho wahlongakala.
JANABARI 20-26, 2012
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LAKAZIMU | GENESISI 6-8
“Wakwenza Koke”
(Genesisi 6:9) Naku-ke umlando kaNowa: UNowa gade ayindoda elungileko, angasoleki ebantwini besikhathi aphila kiso begodu gade atjhidelene noZimu.
(Genesisi 6:13) Nje-ke uZimu wathi kuNowa: “Sengiqunte bona ngibaphelise bokanyana nje ngombana iphasi ligcwele umguruguru ngenca yabo. Yelela-ke, ngiqinisile ngizobaphelisa kanye nephasi.
Lingisa UNowa UDanyela NoJobho
4 Nanzi iintjhijilo uNowa aqalana nazo. Ngeenkhathi zakakhokho kaNowa u-Inogo, abantu bebangasenasimilo. Bebaze batjho namezwi “anamadinyana” banyefula uJehova. (Jud. 14, 15) Kumguruguru ngapha nangapha. Kuhlekuhle ngeenkhathi zakaNowa, iphasi besele “ligcwele umguruguru.” Iingilozi ezikhohlakeleko zeza ephasini zazenza abantu, ngemva kwalokho zatjhada nabafazi bephasina. Akhucabange-ke ukuthi bekuzokuba nabantwana abanjani lapho, abanelaka neentsitsirimba. (Gen. 6:2-4, 11, 12) Kodwana uNowa bekahlukile. “UNowa wafunyana umusa emehlweni kaSomnini. . . . Angasoleki ebantwini besikhathi aphila kiso begodu gade atjhidelene noZimu.”—Gen. 6:8, 9.
(Genesisi 6:14-16) Yeke yewuzenzele umkhumbi ngesigodo segofere, uwenze ube namalawana bese uwusinda ngesikontiri ngaphakathi nangaphandle. 15 Nasi indlela ozowakha ngayo: Umkhumbi kufuze ube mamitha alikhulu namatjhumi amathathu nahlanu ubude, amamitha amatjhumi amabili nambili nesiquntu ububanzi namamitha alitjhumi nantathu nesiquntu ukuphakama. 16 Wenzele isivalo ngaphezulu sibe siquntu semitha ukusuka emqoqweni. Umnyangwawo ube ngeqadi bese kuba nemigangadelo emithathu, ongenzasi, ophakathi nongehla.
“Wakhamba NoZimu Weqiniso”
Umsebenzi lo wathatha amatjhumi weminyaka, mhlamunye iminyaka ema-40 ukuya kwema-50. Bekunemithi okufuze ikatjwe, irhorhe, ibazwe begodu ihlanganiswe. Umkhumbi lo bekufuze ube neentezi ezintathu, amakamaro ambalwa nomnyango eqadi. Ngokukhanyako, bekunamafesidere phezulu, namafulelo aphakemeko phakathi ukwenzela bona azokwazi ukuthulula amanzi.—Genesisi 6:14-16.
(Genesisi 6:22) UNowa wenza koke uZimu agade amyale ngakho. Iye, wakwenza koke.
Gijima Umjarho Ngokukghodlhelela
13 Yini eyenza iinceku zakaJehova lezi zikghone ukukghodlhelela begodu ziphumelele emjarhweni? Tjheja lokho uPowula akutlola ngoNowa. (Funda kwebeHebheru 11:7.) “Ukhukhulamungu wamanzi phezu kwephasi ozokutjhabalalisa yoke inyama” bewuyinto uNowa angakhange ‘ayibone.’ (Gen. 6:17) Bewungokuthileko okungakhange kwenzeke ngaphambili, into ebeyithoma ukuba khona. Nanyana kunjalo, uNowa akhenge awuqale njengento ebeyingeze yenzeka. Kubayini? Ngombana bekanekholo lokobana nanyana yini uJehova ayitjhoko, uJehova uzoyenza. UNowa akhange acabange bona bekubudisi ukwenza lokho ebekuthiwa akwenze. Kunalokho, “wenza njalo.” (Gen. 6:22) Nasicabangela koke uNowa ebekufuze akwenze—ukwakha umkhumbi, ukubuthelela iinlwana, ukungenisa ukudla kwabo nekweenlwana ngemkhunjini, ukutjhumayela umlayezo osiyeleliso, nokubulunga umndenakhe uqinile ngokomoya—bekungasimsebenzi omncani ‘ukwenza njalo.’ Nokho, ukukholwa kwakaNowa nokukghodlhelela kwakhe kwadosela ekuphileni neembusisweni azifumana yena nomndenakhe.
Rhubhulula Ngezinto ZakaZimu Eziligugu
(Genesisi 7:2) Kiwo woke umhlobo weenlwana ezihlambulukileko, thatha ngazimbili zibe likhomba, eduna nesikazayo, kodwana kwezingakahlambuluki uthathe ngazimbili kube ngesiduna nesisikazi.
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Amaphuzu Asencwadini KaGenesisi—I
7:2—Khuyini ebeyisetjenziswa bona kuhlukaniswe iinlwana ezihlambulukileko nezingakahlambuluki? Ukuhlukaniswa kweenlwana bekusebenza kwaphela endabeni yemihlatjelo ingasi ekuhlukaniseni ukuthi ngiziphi okufuze zidliwe namkha ekungakafuzi zidliwe. Ngaphambi komThwalela abantu bebangayidli inyama. Ukuthi ukudla “kuhlwengekile” namkha “akukahlwengeki” kweza ngomThetho kaMosi begodu kwapheliswa ngesikhathi kuqedwa umThetho lo. (IzEnzo 10:9-16; Efesu 2:15) Kuyabonakala ukuthi uNowa bekazi bona ngiziphi iinlwana ebekufuze enzele ngazo uJehova umhlatjelo. Kwathi msinyana ngemva kokuthi aphume emkhunjini, “wakhela uSomnini i-aldari, wathatha kizo zoke iinlwana neenyoni ezihlambulukileko, wanikela umhlabelo wokutjhiswa kilo.”—Genesisi 8:20.
(Genesisi 7:11) Kuthe ngomnyaka wamakhulu asithandathu wokuphila kwakaNowa, inyanga yesibili nayinamalanga alitjhumi nalikhomba, kwathumbuka mhlokho yoke imithombo yamanzi amanengi ngaphasi neentunja zemazulwini zatloroza amanzi.
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Amaphuzu Asencwadini KaGenesisi—I
7:11—Amanzi womThwalela avela kuphi? Hlangana ‘nelanga’ lesibili lokudala nakuba khona “isibanga” ephasini, bekunamanzi ‘ngaphasi kwesibanga’ kanti amanye ‘bewangehla kwesibanga.’ (Genesisi 1:6, 7) Amanzi “angaphasi” kwesibanga ngilawo ebekavele akhona ephasini. Amanzi “angehla” mswakamo owakhuphuka waya ngehla kwephasi, wenza “imithombo yamanzi amanengi.” Amanzi la athulukela ephasini emihleni kaNowa.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Genesisi 6:1-16) Lokha abantu nasele banda ephasini namadodakazi andile, 2 amadodana kaZimu abona bonyana amadodakazi wabantu mahle, azithathela abafazi abathandekako kiwo. 3 Yeke uSomnini wathi: “Ummoya engawuphefumulela emuntwini awusoze wahlala ebantwinaba isiphelani ngombana umuntu uyinyama nje. Yeke ipilo yomuntu ayisoze yadlula eminyakeni elikhulu namatjhumi amabili.” 4 Ngeenkhathezo nangemuva kwalokho bekukhona iintsitsirimba ephasini ngombana amadodana kaZimu alalana namadodakazi wabantu abelethelwa abantwana. Labo-ke bekuziingorho zeenkhathi zakade, okubabantu abanedumo. 5 Lokha uSomnini nakabona bonyana ubukhohlakali bomuntu bukhulu ephasini nokobana imizindlo yehliziywakhe isophe okumbi ngesikhathi soke, 6 wazisola bewanyama bona umenzeleni umuntu ephasini. 7 Yeke uSomnini wathi: “Umuntu engimenzileko ngizomthanyela ebusweni bephasi. Ngizokuthanyela kusukela emuntwini ukuya eenlwaneni, iimphili zoke ezikhakhaba ehlabathini kanye neenyoni zomkayi ngombana ngiyazisola bona ngikudalile koke lokhu.” 8 Kodwana uNowa wafunyana umusa emehlweni kaSomnini. 9 Naku-ke umlando kaNowa: UNowa gade ayindoda elungileko, angasoleki ebantwini besikhathi aphila kiso begodu gade atjhidelene noZimu. 10 UNowa gade anamadodana amathathu, uTjhemu, uRhamu noJafethi. 11 Iphasi belonakele phambi kwakaZimu begodu ligcwele umguruguru. 12 Lokha uZimu nakahlola iphasi, ngambala lalonakele. Iye, boke abantu ebusweni bephasi bebaziphethe ngameswe. 13 Nje-ke uZimu wathi kuNowa: Sengiqunte bona ngibaphelise bokanyana nje ngombana iphasi ligcwele umguruguru ngenca yabo. Yelela-ke, ngiqinisile ngizobaphelisa kanye nephasi. 14 Yeke yewuzenzele umkhumbi ngesigodo segofere, uwenze ube namalawana bese uwusinda ngesikontiri ngaphakathi nangaphandle. 15 Nasi indlela ozowakha ngayo: Umkhumbi kufuze ube mamitha alikhulu namatjhumi amathathu nahlanu ubude, amamitha amatjhumi amabili nambili nesiquntu ububanzi namamitha alitjhumi nantathu nesiquntu ukuphakama. 16 Wenzele isivalo ngaphezulu sibe siquntu semitha ukusuka emqoqweni. Umnyangwawo ube ngeqadi bese kuba nemigangadelo emithathu, ongenzasi, ophakathi nongehla.
JANABARI 27–FEBHERBARI 2
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LAKAZIMU | GENESISI 9-11
“Iphasi Loke Belinelimi Linye”
(Genesisi 11:1-4) Iphasi loke belinelimi linye nekulumo yinye. 2 Kwathi lokha abantu nabakhambakhamba ngepumalanga, bafunyana ibala enarheni yeTjhinari, banzinza lapho. 3 Bathi omunye komunye: “Yizani senzeni iintina sizibhage ziqine.” Basebenzisa iintina esikhundleni samatje, isikontiri esikhundleni sedaka. 4 Bathi: “Yizani sizakhele idorobho libe nombhotjhongo ophakamela ezulwini. Lokhu kuzasenzela ibizo begodu singasabalali nephasi loke.”
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IBhabhiloni Elikhulu
Umsuka weBhabhiloni Lekadeni. Ukusungulwa kwedorobho leBhabhiloni eNarherni yeTjhinari kwenzeka ngesikhathi esifanako nalokha abantu balinga ukwakha umbhoTjhongo weBhabheli. (Gen 11:2-9) Umnqopho wokwakhiwa kombhotjhongo lo bekungasikulotjha uJehova, kodwana abakhi bawo bebafuna ‘ukuzenzela ibizo.’ Kwafumaneka iinsalela zomakhiwo weBhabhiloni lakade emibhotjhongweni ye-ziggurat kodwana nawuya eMesophotamiya ukghona ukubona umsuka wombhotjhongo lo nokuthi bewenzelwe ini. Isiqunto sakaJehova sokutjhabalalisa ukukhiwa kwethempeleli satjengisa ukuthi bekuyikolo yamala. Kungebangelo ngesiHebheru idorobheli libizwa ngokuthi, liBhabheli, elitjho ukuthi, “ukutjharagana,” ibizo leSumerian elithi, (Ka-dingir-ra) nele-Akkadian (Bab-ilu) womabili atjho ukuthi “iSango lakaZimu.” Kungebangelo abantu abahlala edorobhenelo batjhugulula ibizweli bona babalekele ihlathululwalo kodwana ibizo elitjha nofana abalijamiselela ngalo belisahlobanisa idorobheli nekolo.
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Ilimi
Incwadi kaGenesisi, ikhuluma ngalokho uZimu ebekafuna uNowa namadodanakhe bakwenze ngemva komThwalela kodwana kunabantu abeza namahlelo wokuphikisana nentandwakhe. (Gen 9:1) Kunokobana ‘bazalise iphasi’ bebazimisele ukwakha umbhotjhongo ozokwenza abantu bahlale endaweni yinye, ebaleni leTjhinari eMesephotomiya. Kunobufakazi bokuthi bebafuna ukwenza umbhotjhongo lo ube yindawo yekolo.—Gen 11:2-4.
(Genesisi 11:6-8) USomnini wathi: “Akhese nithi niyaqala, abantwaba bamunye begodu boke bakhuluma limi linye. Yeke bazakghona ukwenza nanyana yini abayitlamako. 7 Nambani sehleni, sifese siraranise ilimi labo ukuze bangasakwazi ukuzwana nabakhulumisanako.” 8 Ukusuka lapho uSomnini wabasabalalisa iphasi loke, bebalisa ukwakha idorobho.
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Ilimi
UZimu uMninimandla woke wajamisa umsebenzabo ngokuthi araranise ilimi labo, wabenza bangasazwani. Lokhu kwenza ukuthi bangasakghoni ukusebenzisana kwabangela bona basabalale ephasini loke. Ukuraraniswa kwelimi labo bekuzokuba nomphumela omumbi esikhathini esizako, bekuzobenza bona baphambuke kuZimu, bengekhe basakghona ukusebenzisa amandla nokuhlakanipha ukuluka amano wokuzithuthukisa. Ngombana bekuzokuba budisi ukuhlanganisa imibono ngebanga lokuthi abantu besele bakhuluma amalimi angafaniko—kodwana bazenzela irhubhululo begodu bebanganqotjhiswa nguZimu. (Madanisa noMtj 7:29; Dut 32:5.) Nanyana ukuraraniswa kwamalimi kwabangela ukuthi abantu bahlukane kodwana kwabasiza bona balise ukwenza izinto ezizokuba nemiphumela ebuhlungu. (Gen 11:5-9; madanisa no-Isa 8:9, 10.) Nawucabanga ngezinto ezenzekako esikhathi sethu, abantu basebenzisa amandla nelwazi labo kumbi, nasilemuka lokho uZimu akubikezela ekadeni sizokuzwisisa ukuthi kubayini ajamisa umsebenzabo wokwakha.
(Genesisi 11:9) Kungebangelo libizwa bona yiBhabheli ngombana lapho uSomnini wararanisa ilimi labantu boke begodu ukusuka lapho wabasabalalisa iphasi loke.
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Iintjhaba
Iintjhaba zahlukaniswa lilimi, isitjhaba ngasinye saba nesiko nekolo yaso—esinye nesinye isitjhaba saba nendlela ehlukileko yokwenza izinto. (Lev 18:3) Ngebanga lokuthi abantu besele bahlukanisiwe noZimu bathoma ukuzenzela iinthombe zabozinyana bazo.—Dut 12:30; 2Kh 17:29, 33.
Rhubhulula Ngezinto ZakaZimu Eziligugu
(Genesisi 9:20-22) UNowa wathoma ukuba mlimi. Watjala isidiribe 21 bewasela iwayini laso. Wadakwa kangangobana walala ngetendeni lakhe abhunubhunu. 22 URhamu, uyise kaKanana, wabona ububhunubhunu bakayise, watjela abafowabo ababili ebebangaphandle.
(Genesisi 9:24, 25) Kuthe lokha uNowa nakaqaquluka ewayinini lakhe nokufunyana bona yenzeni kuye indodanakhe encani, 25 wathi: “Akanikelelwe uKanana! Uzakuba likhoboka lakokhoboka kibomnakwabo.”
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URhamu
Kungenzeka ukuthi uKanana nguye owenza lokhu begodu ubabakhe wabhalelwa kumkhalima. Nofana uNowa wabona umukghwa omumbi kuRhamu okungenzeka bona besele awudlulisele endodanenakhe, kungebangelo waphefumulelwa bona aphorofide, ukuthi isizukulwana sakaKanana sizokunikelelwa. Ingcenye yokuzaliseka kwesiphorofidwesi sokunikelelwa namkha ukuqalekiswa kwenzeka ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli avela ehlangothini lakaTjhemu ahlula amaKanana. Abasindako (ngokwesibonelo, abantu beGibhiyoni [Jtj 9]) baba ziingqila kwa-Israyeli. Ngemva kwamakhulu weminyaka, ukunikelelwa kwazaliseka ngokupheleleko lokha isizukulwana sendodana kaRhamu uKanana siba ngaphasi kombuso kaJafethi obewunamandla iMediya nePheresiya, iGrisi, neRoma.
(Genesisi 10:9, 10) Gade amuzumi onamandla nowaziwako, kungebangelo kuthiwa: “NjengoNimrodi umzumi onamandla khulu.” 10 Ikaba yombuswakhe beyiseBhabheli, e-Ereke, e-Akadi neKaline enarheni yeTjhinari.
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UNimrodi
Ikaba yombuso kaNimrodi beyiseBhabheli, e-Ereke, e-Akadi neKaline enarheni yeTjhinari. (Gen 10:10) Yeke kuyakhanya ukuthi nguye owahlela bona kwakhiwe umbhotjhongo weBhabheli. Lokhu kuvumelana nalokho okwatjhiwo maJuda. UJosephus wathi: “[UNimrodi] kancanikancani wathoma ukugandelela abantu, waluka namano wokubahlukanisa noZimu ngokuthi balotjhe yena begodu bathembele emandlenakhe. Wasongela ngokuthi uzozibuyiselela kuZimu nakangatjhabalalisa iphasi ngamanzi godu; wathi uzokwakha umbhotjhongo ophakeme khulu la amanzi angeze afika khona begodu uzozibuyiselela ngebanga lokutjhatjalaliswa kwabokhokho bakhe. Abantu bebazimisele ukulalela [uNimrodi], bakholelwa ukuthi baziingqila zakaZimu; yeke bakha umbhotjhongo . . . begodu wabamkhulu ngokurhabako.”—Jewish Antiquities, I, 114, 115 (iv, 2, 3).
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Genesisi 10:6-32) Iinzukulwana zakaRhamu bekunguKutjhe, uGibhide, uPhuthi noKanana. 7 Iinzukulwana zakaKutjhe bekunguSeba, uRhavila, uSabeta, uRama noSabiteka. Iinzukulwana zakaRama kunguTjheba noDedani. 8 UKutjhe godu wabeletha uNimrodi owaba yindlhondlho yokuthoma ephasini. 9 Gade amuzumi onamandla nowaziwako, kungebangelo kuthiwa: “NjengoNimrodi umzumi onamandla khulu.” 10 Ikaba yombuswakhe beyiseBhabheli, e-Ereke, e-Akadi neKaline enarheni yeTjhinari. 11 Ukusukela lapho umbuswakhe wanabela e-Asiriya, lapha akha khona iNiniva, iRerhobhothi, i-Iri neKalarha 12 kanye neReseni, idorobho elikhulu phakathi kweNiniva neKalarha. 13 UGibhide gade anguyise wamaLudi, ama-Anamu, amaLehabi, amaNafiturhi, 14 amaPatrusi, amaKasilurhi (lapha amaFilista avela khona) namaKafitori. 15 UKanana wabeletha uTsidoni izibulo lakhe walanywa nguRhethi, 16 godu waba nguyise wamaJebusi, ama-Amori, amaGirigatjhi, 17 amaRhivi, ama-Ariki, amaSini, 18 ama-Arivadi, amaTsemari namaRhamathi. Emva kwalokho iinkoro zamaKanana zasabalala. 19 Imikhawulo yamaKanana yanaba ukusuka eTsidoni ukufika eGerari ngitjho nakude ukuya eGaza. Ukusuka lapho beyinabela eSodoma, eGomora, e-Adama, eTseboyimu ukuyokubetha eLatjha. 20 Lezo bekuziinzukulwana zakaRhamu ngokuya ngezizwe neenkoro zazo namalimazo eenarheni zazo. 21 UTjhemu ongumnakwabo lakaJafethi, naye wabelethelwa amadodana. Yena ungukhokho wazo zoke iinzukulwana zaka-Ebhere. 22 Amadodana kaTjhemu bekungu-Elamu, u-Atjhuri u-Aripakitjhadi, uLudi, no-Aramu. 23 Amadodana ka-Aramu bekungu-Utsi, uRhuli, uGeteri noMatjhi. 24 U-Aripakitjhadi wabeletha uTjhelarhi. UTjhelarhi wabeletha u-Ebhere. 25 U-Ebhere wabeletha amadodana amabili, enye beyibizwa bona nguPelegi ngombana ngeenkhathi zakhe izizwe zephasi bezihlukene. Umnakwabo gade abizwa bona nguJokhithani. 26 UJokhithani wabeletha u-Almodadi, uTjhelefi, uRhatsarimavethi, uJerarhi, 27 uHadoramu, u-Uzali, uDikhila, 28 u-Obhali, u-Abimayeli, uTjheba, 29 u-Ofira, uRhavila noJobabi. Boke labo bekumadodana kaJokhithani. 29 Isifunda agade ahlala kiso besinabe ukusuka eMetjha ukuya eSefari eentabeni zepumalanga. 30 Lezo bekuziinzukulwana zakaTjhemu ngokuya ngezizwe neenkoro zazo namalimazo eenarheni zazo. 31 Lezo-ke bekuziinkoro ezadabuka emadodaneni kaNowa ngokuya ngokulandelana kwazo ezizweni zazo. Ukusukela kilezonkoro, izizwe zasabalala nephasi loke emva komthwalela.